Event AV hire: speakers, screens and mics
Rent sound systems, projectors and microphones to local events, meetings and parties, with delivery and setup.
- C$4k-20k
- Side hustle
- Out and about
Estimates for a small start in Canada, not guarantees.
What it is
A small hire inventory of PA speakers, wireless mics, projectors, screens and basic lighting, kept at home or in a storage unit and delivered to events, with setup and takedown if the client wants it.
Your first three steps
- Check local hire prices and pick a starter package, such as a PA system with two mics and a projector with a screen
- Buy a first set of reliable gear, a hire agreement template and a simple online booking calendar
- Contact local planners, venues, community halls and schools, and offer a discounted first hire for a review
Who pays
Event planners, community groups, schools, churches, small businesses, wedding couples and clubs that need gear for a day or weekend.
How it makes money
Daily or weekend hire rates per item or package, plus delivery, setup and technician fees. Gear can be rented out many times, so each piece pays back over a season.
Skills that help
- Basic sound and video setup
- Organizing bookings and gear
- Customer service
- Lifting and driving
Watch out for
- Commercial general liability insurance, plus cover for the equipment itself against theft, loss and damage
- Check your municipality about home-based business rules and storing gear at home
- Damage and late returns: use a signed hire agreement and consider a damage deposit
- Electrical safety and testing of cables and gear; check what your insurer expects
- Registering for GST/HST once revenue passes the small supplier threshold
- Winter weather and seasonality, with busy summer and holiday periods and quieter months
Deep research report · Canada
Everything you need to start: event AV hire: speakers, screens and mics
Researched with live web search for Canada: real startup prices, the licences and rules, what others charge, a break-even example, how to find your first customers and a 30-day launch plan. With sources.
- Startup costs with real prices
- Licences, registration and rules
- Pricing: what others charge
- Break-even example
- Finding your first customers
- 30-day launch plan
- Risks and how to reduce them
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to start an AV equipment hire business?
Estimates suggest startup costs are typically around $4,000 to $20,000, depending on how much sound, projection and lighting gear you buy and how you store and transport it. Insurance for the equipment itself is also worth budgeting for.
How much can an event AV hire business earn?
Estimated monthly revenue is typically around $800 to $4,500, depending on your inventory, how often it is booked and your pricing. Summer and holiday periods tend to be busier, with quieter months in between.
What rules and insurance should I check before renting out AV gear?
Check commercial general liability insurance plus cover for theft, loss and damage to the equipment. Ask your municipality about home-based business rules and storing gear at home. Check electrical safety and testing expectations with your insurer, and GST/HST registration once revenue passes the small supplier threshold.
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